Spring
Arbor Township Board - December 10, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Spring Arbor Township Board was held Monday,
December 10, 2007, at 7:02 p.m., with the following members present:
Supervisor Will DeGraaf, Treasurer Gloria Melchiori, Trustees Marston
Fortress, Troy Ganton and Brent Williams. Trustee Patricia Short
arrived at 7:05 p.m. Clerk Randi Holthouse arrived at 7:07 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Supervisor. A moment of
silence was observed for Allan Short.
Guests
were: Ken Wyatt, Russ Ratkiewicz and Tim McEldowney.
Public
Comment: Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.
There was no public comment.
Expenditures.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Williams to approve the
following expenditures for November 2007: General Fund expenditures
#45674-45766 totaling $116,705.50; Fire Department Fund expenditures
#45677-45765 totaling $58,634.87; Street Light Fund expenditures
#45683 and #45701 totaling $3,659.17; Public Improvement Fund expenditures
#45682-45756 totaling $1,294.50; Building Inspection Fund expenditures
#45675-45765 totaling $3,246.81; Sewer O & M Fund expenditures
#45686-45766 totaling $32,761.52; Water O & M Fund expenditures
#45701-45765 totaling $3,433.64; Trust & Agency fund expenditures
#1895-1898 totaling $624.00; and, Tax Fund expenditures #4220-4228
totaling $251,716.08. Roll call: 6 yes.
Minutes.
Motion was made by Williams and supported by Ganton to approve the
regular board meeting minutes of December 10, 2007; carried.
Consent
Agenda. Motion was made by Ganton and supported by
Short to approve the following items under the consent agenda consisting
of the financial reports for November 2007; general ledger report
of revenues and expenditures for November 2007; Senior Center Advisory
Board minutes of November 14, 2007; Sewer & Water Committee
minutes of November 26, 2007; Storm Water Committee minutes of November
28, 2007; Planning Commission minutes of December 4, 2007; and,
Budget Committee minutes of December 5, 2007. The financial report
showed the following balances as of November 30:
General Fund Cash
$38,401.06
Certificate of Deposit
322,871.31
Fire Operations Cash
17,405.00
Fire Operations CD
289,528.04
Street Light Fund
(7,063.10)
Public Improvement Fund
0.00
P.I.F. Certificate of Deposit
37,786.02
Building Inspection Fund
959.43
Falling Waters Endowment Fund
0.00
Falling Waters Endowment Fund CD
30,919.36
Sewer Funds
1,136,869.19
Water Funds
319,705.71
Trust & Agency Funds
0.00
Current Taxes
11,109.28;
carried.
REPORTS:
A.
Police and Fire Reports. There were 60 medical rescue
runs, one fire alarm, five mutual aid calls, eight fire runs, and
no carbon monoxide incidents, bomb threats or Hazmat responses during
November. Police statistics include: 172 complaints, 19 accidents,
12 tickets, 13 verbal warnings, two arrests, no semis ticketed and
12 back-up calls to other departments. The Chief of Police reported
that this year’s totals are down for issuing tickets and making
arrests. The police department was called to Weatherwax Pharmacy
for a prescription fraud taking place which resulted in an arrest.
Additionally, the department will be receiving new portable radios
through the Sheriff’s department. The Chief also reported
that thieves are now stealing catalytic converters from cars.
The Fire Chief reported that their total runs are now at 757; last
years total at this time was 652. He expects to see their yearly
total at approximately 800 runs. The department provided mutual
aid to Concord Township the previous Saturday and also participated
in the Hanging of the Greens at Spring Arbor University.
Motion was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve
the police and fire reports; carried.
B.
Building Permit Reports. The report of building permits
issued during the month of November showed miscellaneous permits
for a total value of $317,000. No new home permits were issued compared
to two in November 2006. Motion was made by Williams and supported
by Melchiori to accept the building permit report; carried.
C.
Supervisor=s Report. Advised the board: of the recommended
solicitation ordinance; of the status of revenue sharing payments
received; of the status of the Phase II Storm Water program requirements;
of his recommendation for background checks; of the recommended
changes regarding building security; of the recommended committee
appointments; and, of the increase in cost to repair the College
Lift Station.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS:
NEW
BUSINESS:
A.
Peddler & Solicitor Ordinance. Motion was made
by Ganton and supported by Short to approve the Peddler And Solicitor
Ordinance, No. 61. Roll Call: 7 yes.
B. Authorization of Background Checks. Motion
was made by Williams and supported by Fortress to approve the two
forms prepared by the township attorney titled “Criminal History
Conviction Statement” and “Authorization to Release
Confidential Information” to be used when hiring new Township
employees; carried.
C.
Township Building Security. Motion was made by Fortress
and supported by Short to appoint a task force consisting of the
Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer and Chief of Police to review the recommendations
regarding building security and provide recommendations to the Township
Board; carried.
D.
Committee Appointments. Motion was made by Holthouse
and supported by Short to approve the following committee appointments
and reappointments:
Construction Board of Appeals, Troy Ganton, a five-year term expiring
01/31/13,
Sewer & Water Committee, Stan Lyon, a three-year term expiring
02/28/11,
Planning Commission, Robert Poole, a three-year term expiring 02/28/11,
Planning Commission, Marston Fortress, a three-year term expiring
02/28/11,
Planning Commission, Mel Rice, to fill a vacancy expiring 02/28/08,
Planning Commission, Mel Rice, a three-year term expiring 02/28/11,
Sewer Board of Review, Charles Tomasello, a three-year term expiring
02/28/11,
Zoning Board of Appeals, David Herlein, to fill a vacancy expiring
02/28/09,
Zoning Board of Appeals, Todd Zeller, a three-year term expiring
02/28/11,
Zoning Board of Appeals, William Jaquays, a three-year term expiring
02/28/11,
Budget Committee, Brent Williams, a one-year term expiring 12/31/08,
Public Safety Board, Brian Philson, a three-year term expiring 02/28/09;
carried.
E.
College Lift Station Expenditure. Motion was made by
Williams and supported by Ganton to approve the change order for
repair and maintenance of the College Lift Station with an increased
cost of $13,547.00. Roll Call: 7 yes.
F.
Budget Committee Recommendations. Motion was made by
Ganton and supported by Williams to have the Security Task Force
review the recommendations from the Budget Committee and report
back to the Township Board; carried.
G.
Summer Tax Collection Agreement. Motion was made by
Fortress and supported by Short to approve summer tax collection
agreement as presented by the Treasurer; carried.
H.
Performance Resolution for Highway Closure. Motion
was made by Fortress and supported by Williams to approve the Performance
Resolution from the Michigan Department of Transportation for the
closure of M-60 during the 2008 year. Roll Call: 7 yes.
I. Appointment of Volunteer Fireman. The
Fire Chief presented his request for the appointment of a new volunteer
fireman, Jim Videto, Jr., as a paid-on-call employee. Motion was
made by Ganton and supported by Melchiori to approve the appointment
of Jim Videto, Jr., as a paid-on-call volunteer fireman to the Spring
Arbor Fire Department. Roll Call: 7 yes.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letters from Comcast.
Newsletter from FSC&S and the Washington Report.
Local Government Law Bulletin.
PUBLIC/BOARD
COMMENT: Public comment opened at 7:55 p.m.
Treasurer Melchiori. Treasurer Melchiori
reminded everyone that taxes are due by February 14, 2008, and also
commented to have them paid by December 31, 2007 to use them for
tax purposes.
Trustee Ganton. Trustee Ganton inquired
regarding a municipality being able to display a nativity scene
on public property.
Trustee Fortress. Trustee Fortress asked
if anyone had been contacted regarding a lease opportunity from
an oil company. He also asked for clarification regarding the status
of changing the Planning Commission scheduled meeting dates. He
asked that if it is the intention of the Township Board to cancel
Planning Commission meetings, that a cut-off date be set for the
Thursday prior to the meeting for notification to the members.
Trustee Williams. Trustee Williams suggested
that it would be wise to have a police officer present for the 2008
Board of Review.
Trustee Short. Trustee Short asked if we
have a written requirement to have a Township employee present at
the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings to
explain the decisions made by each of those committee groups.
Adjournment.
Motion was made by Ganton and supported by Fortress to adjourn the
meeting at 8:07 p.m.; carried.
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